Pirates adopting new tactics says Neptune Maritime

Monday 22 August 2011

August 22 - Following a report filed on Sunday August 7th by the IMB Live Piracy Reporting Centre, which saw suspected Somali pirates at attempt to hijack a vessel off the coast of Eritrea in large numbers, Neptune Maritime Security raised concerns over t

Unfortunately, it would indeed appear that pirates in the area are banding together in an attempt to 'swarm' vessels and late last week the IMB Live Piracy Reporting Centre listed an attempted hijacking on a bulk carrier underway around 22nm NE of Assab, Eritrea in the Red Sea, approximately 26.19 km north of the attack on August 7th, and could suggest that this large group of pirates have a specific area of operations.

The report states that seven high-speed boats suddenly approached the carrier and that each boat contained three to five men, each armed with automatic weapons. This mirrors the previous attack of August 7th, which saw an estimated 60 pirates mount an unsuccessful attack on a vessel protected by an armed security team. Even underestimating the number of pirates in the most recent attack to just 21, it would still seem to confirm that pirate gangs have adopted a new tactic of mass attacks in the waters surrounding Eritrea.

Intelligence sources suggest that this new trend may be a consequence of the monsoon season, but without further data, it is difficult to confirm.

In the most recent incident, the Master increased the speed of the bulk carrier and adopted evasive manoeuvres while the crew, with the exception of the bridge team, mustered in the Citadel.

Fortunately, the pirates aborted their attack and moved away. However, Neptune Maritime Security is keen to bring this tactic to the attention of all shipping companies and seafarers who intend to transit the area.

June 5 - A fire broke out aboard Höegh Autoliners’ ro-ro vessel Höegh Xiamen yesterday (June 4) at Blount Island, Jacksonville, USA; there are no injuries to any of the 21 crew members, who have all been evacuated from the vessel.